A few weeks ago I went to the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary on my day off to walk around and enjoy some nature. The Heard, as you can guess by the name, has an indoor museum and an outdoor preserve full of animals and trails.

I brought a book, some Whole30 snacks (it was my first day of Whole30!), tennis shoes, and I was ready to walk! There are many different trails (varying in length from about half a mile to a mile) you can go on to explore the different landscapes.

While I was there they were in the ending days of a dinosaur exhibition (see my new friend below).

my new friend

Here are a few basic pieces of information that would be helpful for your visit to the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary:

Hours

Most of the trails go within some sort of “mini forest” where you can see animal tracks (or even animals). As it was winter-time the trees were bare, but the trails were a little muddy.

They have a wetlands piece of the park where you can see turtles, birds, and other marine animals, all while walking on a raised walkway.

They have animals, which I didn’t get a picture of, that had been rescued (like a few bobcats and deer). Many of the animals weren’t out because of the time of year, but the staff was knowledgeable (thanks, Michelle for answering all of my questions about the cavy).

There are quite a few benches around so that you can take a load off, eat some snacks, or open up a book.

I want to go visit when the greenery is actually green, but it’s cool to see how reserved you feel in the park in comparison to the neighborhood actually bordering the large piece of land. Despite the winter, the plains are picturesque.

Here’s another one of my dino buddies. The dinosaurs were big hits amongst the kids, as was the old timey village. Kids and their parents weren’t really on the trails so you were able to get away from the noise.

The indoor museum had more animals (like snakes and spiders), a gem and shell exhibit, and some North-Texas specific exhibits about weather and the surrounding landscape. I didn’t spend too much time inside because the weather being so nice but you can tell they put on a lot of interesting events.

Overall, I had a great time at this park! I’d recommend it to Dallas-ites of all ages and all times of year.

Is there an unsung hero of your town (or even Dallas)? Spread the love in the comments below!